This is my first post after 2 years of studying this awesome forum. Thanks to all for the wealth of information from the group.
I made a "Hail Mary pass"! Flew from NJ to Las Vegas, bought my sweet ride on Thursday and I'm heading home on I-40. At my first stop, is at the Grand Canyon!
The vehicle is a one owner, garage kept with 43k miles.
Never drove an RV before, but this Foretravel is a piece of cake to drive!
Loving life!!!
What model did you Buy? You need to update your signature with Year Model Build # etc Pictures Picture we love pictures!! Be Safe have a great trip homewards! ^.^d
U270
Check my wind warning . ^.^d
Welcome and safe travels! We love pictures. ;D
Congrats! Take it easy the first few days and pay attention to the weather. You might want to consider staying south as long as you can.
Welcome and b^.^d b^.^d b^.^d , If this is your first time driving a "Big" rig, be careful on wet or slippery roads. Read posts on use of Jake Brake and/or retarder as they can get you in trouble. Enjoy the ride, lots to see in this beautiful Country of Ours...
Stay south, Texas is getting some ice weather along the northern borders down into central. Don't get over confident, just because she is easy to drive. Get to know your pivot point for your turns or backing up. Otherwise have a great time bringing your new baby home. Welcome to the forum too.
Welcome, I look forward to your posts and pictures! I've attached the fed sticker, as my 1997 build # of Sept. 1996 is 5040, probably not to far from yours. Notice it is in the model #, not the VIN. Travel safe. If this is your first rv, you started out with a terrific one.
Congrats ^.^d
Congratulations. You need to learn up on winterizing you will need it long before you get home.
Congrats!!! Hope for many safe miles and a whole lot of fun and memories !!
Congratulations! We bought our u320 in September, it is our 1st ever rv. A lot to learn but a great rig... now if we can just find time to take her out... enjoy your ride home
Want2,
First off, congrats on the new purchase and welcome to the forum! As you know, tons of great information here and great people to get that information from. May your asphalt be always smooth.
Second. I noticed you re from N.J. and I grew up there. What part?
Third. I'm just outside of Austin today, and I would suggest that you hole up for a while if you can. Icing rain is falling north of us and the wind is gusting pretty good. If you re not used to it (and at this stage you re not) you could end up changing lanes when you don't expect it.
As Moby said there is freezing rain moving into the West side of Fort Worth now burrrrrr
Just checked my radar app. Looks clear, but temps are still cold on I 20. And I 10. Local report from Borne of ice on car roof
So the bridges are likely to be slippery. There is a major rain just east of Houston appears to be moving ne and what appears to be scattered rain showers near Galveston.
Thanks to all for the warm welcome!
Moby, I live about 10 miles outside of Philadelphia. Flew out of town the day before the Eagles parade!
I'm in a small RV park west of Albuquerque and hope to head to Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo today.
I appreciate the weather warning and am checking the radar. Looks like there is a line of nasty stuff following my planned route! So much for the early start!!!
W-2,
The trip down into Palo Duro Canyon will be a confidence booster for sure for a new owner. We always enjoy this area.
Pamela
We plan to be in Amarillo in mid April, didn't know you could drive a motor home into the canyon. Sounds ifffy, should I try it?? Thanks and have a great day ---- Fritz
Fritz,
We have had both our 240 and now our 320 in the campground. Yes the road is steep and crooked, this is a Mike only drive. The pucker factor for the passenger is about a 7 or 8 until Mike wants you to look at something out the side window then this rises to a 11 on the scale of 1 to 10.
Pamela
Just understand that at this time of the year, it can snow or sleet in Palo Dura canyon. It will be sheltered down in the canyon,and there does appear to be some storms headed that way. We got caught last spring in May in a snowstorm, with high winds. Just be careful, keep an eye on your radar app and watch out for the other guy. If you are coming from Albuquerque, there were snow warnings to NM /tx border on my app.
I'm reconsidering my destination thanks to your feedback.
With a late start due to the weather and it being a 6 hour drive, I need to come up with a plan B!!!
My suggestion for a plan B would be stay put at the campground until it clears. With so little experience with driving the coach why risk bad driving conditions.
Totally agree with Craneman, time to hunker down and let it clear a bit. You are on your maiden voyage, don't go pushing the envelope. Safety is of the up most importance, believe me,a coach doesn't stop on a dime. Ask the deer we smacked late Sept. Time to settle in and read those manuals about everything in your new baby. Tommorow things and conditions maybe better for travel.
Want2,
I second (third?) what Craneman and Pugmom are saying.
I have no idea what schedule you need to keep, if any, if you have work commitments back in the Garden State or not so it sounds easy for us to say "Stay put".
But speaking Newbie to Newbie, believe me, its far safer this way. And God forbid, if something happens, it will be less expensive! It took me a while to realize that sometimes you have to go slower to go faster, and given our experience level, this is one of the times you need to go slower.
Please keep us posted regarding whats going on and where you are. We all do care.
Just outside of Austin it's 43, sunny. Nonfreezing temps the rest of the week, but varied chances of rain.
You do have a good weather App for your phone, right?
Oh, BTW, I grew up in Bergan County.
43k miles and garage kept 270. Sounds like a good find to me.
At the risk of repeating myself, I don't know what your personal situation is.
Are you OK with a 6 hour drive? I don't like to go over 4 hours myself, given the weight and length of what I'm driving
Moby, interesting limits....I hear mileage limits by some, time by some and others base it on route as relates to traffic and road conditions....and just how tiring is it, stress of trip. Or your favorite stops on a route?
For neebie cannot be too conservative I think
Great questions!
This decision is based on extensive scientific research. The phase of the moon, the tides and a well thrown dart were all a part of the decision making process.
My snark is really gonna get me in trouble some day.
Still a great question. I've based it mostly on my recent experience - how far do I have to go? What are the road conditions?
Super slab or secondary roads? All this plays into it. Obviously if I'm on a super slab I'm going to make up more miles, but then boredom can set in. Secondary roads mean less miles with interesting scenery but more twists, turns, merges and so forth that demand attention.
Either way, I noticed that about five hours in I start to get sloppy, so I took off an hour of travel time and came up with that solution. Also, it allows me to set up camp, unhook the toad and relax for a bit before we take a quick ride to scope out where-ever we landed.
Road conditions play a part, so I'm firmly locked into the four hour rule (not).
Generally, if Google tells me its a 5 hour drive, I look for alternative routes or break it into sections. I keep telling myself, I have no place to go and no appointment to get there. For example, the state park I'm in now did not have an opening on Saturday (my anticipated arrival date) so I drove close to the park, spent an overnight at another campsite then drove the whopping 45 minutes to get where I am.
I guess, the final answer is:
"It depends".
I am happy to report I made it home safely! My new ride is parked in the driveway.
It was a 2900 mile voyage, with only a few minor hiccups. We dodged bad weather, saw some beautiful countryside and learned how to drive an RV. I have heard it takes 2000 miles to get the basic driving skills down. I feel much more comfortable now, than when I started the journey in Las Vegas!
I look forward to taking a more leisurely trip!
As soon is I figure out how to attach, pictures I'll post some.
Hi Charlie, Where is "Home" ? 2900 miles from Vegas covers a lot of ground.. ;D
South Jersey, near Philadelphia.
We took some side trips to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and the Meteorite Crater. Very enjoyable!!!
Great first trip!
Good show, Charlie! How did the steering wheel fair? No bends or scratches in the device? Seats still good? Way to go.
No scratches, dings or dents!
The steering wheel did receive some serious squeezing when I climbed up and over the Sky Line Drive at Natural Bridge in Virginia! I really appreciated the retarder!
Congratulations on your new coach and trip home.
I have a few comments too.. we bought our first coach 1-year 3 Mo's ago.
(1) I've learned the art of going slow. I never drive over 63 mph. I'm easy on bumps. Driving my rv is a lot different pace than driving a car. I am very careful with following distance.
(2) there is huge value in taking a course such as RV Driving School; two days of driving with an expert. I had the humiliating experience of after 2000 miles, "I got this" ...taking a turn too close and clipping a bridge "thing". It cost State Farm $17k. I still want to cry when thinking about it.
Enjoy your new coach! Travel on!
Just thought I would attach some pictures of my new ride.
Front inside view.
Look'n GOOD!
I am currently negotiating on my fist Foretravel....very anxious! Congrats!
I took a leap of faith buying my Foretravel and so glad I did!
I followed my heart and paid attention to my gut reaction! Maybe not the most scientific way to go, but it's the way I have the most success!!!
Good luck with your search!!!
Congrats Charlie on your "new to you" Foretravel! Looks like a nice one. Take the time to learn all the systems, what makes her "tick" and get some knowledge here on the forum. Also, take advantage of your free 1 year membership in the Foretravel Mototrcade by calling them and telling them you just bought. Hope to see you on the trails!
Chuck